Needle threader



I Filed July 27, 1949 Oct. 27, 1953 J. s. KAHN 2,656,956

NEEDLE THREADER 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. JULIAN SETH KAHN A r role/vex Oct. 27, 1953 .1. s. KAHN 2, 5 56 NEEDLE THREADER Filed July 27, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wfll/[LlL ni a V//////7////////////////////////// ||4 INVENTOR. JULIAN SETH KAHN Oct. 27, 1953 .J. KAHN 5 NEEDLE THREADER Filed July 27, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

JULIAN SETH KAHN BY ATTORNEYT Patented Oct. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NEEDLE THREADER Julian Seth Kahn, New York, N. Y.

Application July 27, 1949, Serial No. 107,022

13 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improved needle threader which is adapted to receive and thread sewing needles, embroidery needles, lacing needies, darning needles and the like, irrespective of their respective sizes and shapes, and irrespective of the relative positions of their eyes. The needle threader constituting the present invention is equally adapted to accommodate extremely fine thread, such as fine silk and nylon, and extreme- 1y heavy darning yarn, whether made of nylon, wool, silk, cotton, glass fiber, or the like, as well as thread of intermediate thickness, such as the cotton thread which is generally used by housewives for mending purposes. The needle threader constituting the present invention is of relatively fool-proof design in that it functions properly and efiicaciously with respect to all commercial needles of the types above mentioned. It is indeed a most versatile instrument which performs its assigned work efficiently.

In needle threaders of the prior art of the general type referred to herein, a threading arm was first passed through the eye of a needle by manual pressure which was applied from the rear against the pressure of a spring, and then the thread Was draped over the arm and the manual pressure released to permit the spring to withdraw the arm carrying the thread through the eye.

There were several hazards to this:

First, the manual pressure from the rear tended to force the arm (whether it registered with the eye or not) so that frequently the arm ricocheted on the side of the needle without going through the eye. Thus, the arm was frequently bent, and this destroyed the value of the threader for further use.

Secondly, by pushing from the rear the manual pressure is substantially uncontrolled and the arm, having 'some vertical play, may not adjust itself vertically to pass into the eye of the needle and thus may strike the metal of the needle and bend or break.

Thirdly, the finger must retain pressure on plunger against the tension of the spring. If threading cannot be done very quickly, the finger may relax its pressure and thus the thread will miss the threading arm since the spring will retract the arm slightly.

Fourthly, it was not possible to thread an assortment of needles in prior art devices except to very limited extent. Nor could very thick thread or many plies of any thread be used with such old devices.

With the threader of the present invention, a bunch of thread which is much thicker than the width of the eye of the needle, may be passed through said eye. With a threader of the present invention, 20 or more strands of N0. 60 thread may be passed through the eye of a number 1 needle. The reason for this is that the thread a is being pushed through the eye of the needle with the hooked threading arm by manual pressure as distinguished from spring pressure. Two things happen in response to the pressured the thread or yarn is squeezed together in order to get through the eye, and when fully squeezed, if the yarn or thread will not yield any further, the walls of the eye of the needle actually yield or bulge to permit the arm to pull the thread through.

other threaders are made to take a particular size of thread and needle while the threader herein described will take large variety of sizes of thread and of needles.

It is accordingly the principal object of this invention to provide a needle threader oi the character described which is self-adjustable to accommodate all of the different types of needle in all of their respective sizes and shapes. No conscious effort on the part of the operator is required to set or adjust the present needle threader to enable it to accommodate the needles. Instead, its needle threading member automatically cams itself upwardly to properly align the threading arm relative to the eye of very large needles; Where the eye is so extremely positioned as in the case of a very small needle,

that the threading arm cannot align itself therewith, it automatically cams the needle to bring its eye into alignment with the threading arm. The reciprocating member carrying the threading arm functions two ways, therefore, to provide accurate alignment between the threading arm and the eye of the needle: it either cams the arm into such alignment or it cams the needle into alignment with the arm.

Another principal object of the present invention is the provision of a needle threader of the character described wherein manual pressure is used to force the thread through the eye of the needle. Gentle spring pressure moves the threading arm through the eye in the first instance and the operators finger, generally the thumb, is used to force the threading arm and thread back through the eye in the threading operation, the point of the threading arm being directed toward the finger-applying end of the plunger. This feature is extremely important since more pressure is generally required to force the threading arm through the eye when a thread is mounted thereon than when the threading arm is unencumbered. In virtually all of the needle threaders currently on the market, finger pressure is applied to the reciprocating member in the first instance to insert the threading arm through the eye of the needle and spring pressure is depended upon to force said arm in the opposite direction and out of the eye when a thread is mounted thereon. Whenthe thread happens to .be relatively heavy or the eye relatively small, spring pressure may be found to be insufficient to force the arm and the thread through the eye at the same time.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a needle threader of the character described which is operable by simply inserting the needle into asuitable receptacle and then :actuating the reciprocating threading member. In many threading devices of the prior artfit'is'virtually as difficult to find the needle receptacle as it 'i'sto find the needle eye and it is at times rather questionable whether it is more difficult to thread the needle with the unaided eye or to insert the needle into proper operative position in'theneedle threader. In-the-pre'sent invention, onthe other 'handgthere-isno problem whatsoever in accurately locating'the eyeof-the needle relative to "the threading arm in the needle threader. There is a relatively large hole or well which may be many times the diameter of"the'needle. Its open end flares outwardly-to 'evengreater dimensions so that it is-no trouble at'all to findthewell for the purpose of inserting the needle therein. In many of the needle threaders of the prior art, this Well is used for needle "alignment-purposes, and it'must, thereforefnecessarily be of relatively small diameter. In thepresent'device, however, it isnot the'hole or well primarily, but rather its closed conical end or seat which properly vertically positions the needle, and hence'the hole may be so dimensioned as "to render it easy and convenient to ins'erta needle therein.

Inorde r to'provide a needle threader which will handle'all commercial hand-sewing needles from the finest to the largest, and incidentally handle 'fin'efilament threads in single or multiplies tothe largeyheavy darningwools, it is necessaryto facilitate the withdrawal of the thread byhaving a generally-vertical slot communicating thenee'dle hole of the threader with the outside 'ofthe casing. This'slot must be large enough to provide for the'ekit of many thicknesses of thread'or of'considerable thickness of a single thread or yarn. 'Howeven'if a small needle were put into-the Well of the needle holder, it would tend to fall' over and out through the slot before the needle coultlbe-threaded. Hence, it is an "object of the invention to provide in a needle threader which has a relatively large hole or pocket or Well for the reception of various sized needles; a slot of Zig-zag formation, or a'slot with interspersed barriers which would retain a needle even of the'very smallest diameter,in upright position, While still permitting the free passage or "the thread or yarn'upwardly through theslot.

"Still anoth'erbbjectof this invention is the provision'of'a needle threader of thecha'racter.

described-wherein the hooked threading arm is integral with the finger piece or plunger which actuates it and with'the spring'which returns it tofits normal or inoperative position.

'All the internalworking parts, that is, thereciprocating memberQthe threading arm, and the springare stamped out of thesa'me piece ofsheet material, preferably stainless spring steel, of

- provision of a needle threader of the character described, which has two needle threading arms, one of which functions automatically in accord- .ance with the principles of the present invention and the other of which is operable in connection withneedles or non-commercial or special size andshape. Both needle threading members may be integral with the same reciprocating member or plunger and they may be both integral with the'same spring so that both threading arms,the finger pieceand'the springmay be stamped out of the same piece of sheet material.

Another object of this invention is the provision of 'a needle threader of the characterdescribed Whose housing has-a shank so fashioned that the threader .may be mounted in a :hole formed in a table or in a loop formedbya strap, or in-any other suitable place. Morespecifically, the housing is provided with a tapered-shank portion or appendage which is insertable 'intoany suitable opening so that the device may very conveniently be put aside when-it is notin use, and it may equally conveniently be picked up whenever it is desired to use it. .For example, the tapered shank may be inserted intothe axial opening of a thread spool. Thetapered shape of'the shank will enable it to fit rather tightly in the hole of the spool so that the spool may be used as a handle for the needle threader-to render-the threaderrnore convenient for use and to'have the thread readily available. The shank isspecifically shaped to wedge into the center hole of a thread-spool.

A still further object is to provide a device to be used for threading all commercial hand-sewing-needlesffrom thevery smallest N0. 10 to the very largest No. l, and to that end, the construction is such that for small needles, the bill of the threading armas it seeks to enter the eye, 'will'actas a cam to raise the small needle enough to-permit entry ofthe arm through the eye, and with the large needle, the bill of the threading arm will contact the bottom wall of theeyeland the reciprocating member itself with its threading arm will rise-to enter the eye. That is to say, with the smallest of needles, the needles are raised, while with the larger needles thereciproeatingmember and the threading arm will rise. 'T-hearm,reciprocating member and its spring are so constructed and arranged that the spring pres' sure maintains the forward end of the reciprocating member yieldingly against-the bottom oil-its slot, thus "permitting the threading member to rise and ride intotheeye of a large needle, while being adapted to cause the small needleto rise up for the threading arm to enter its eye.

'An'additional object of this invention is the provision of a combination needle threading device and holder therefor. The needle threading device herein described and claimed may very conveniently "be mounted upon a conventional sewing thimble, and it may very readily "beattached to a suction cup which will adaptit for mounting uponany suitable plane surface.

Still another object of this invent-ion is the provided with a V-shaped channel or throat which receives the thread and precisely directs it to the threading arm so that said arm may automatically engage the thread for drawing through the needles eye.

The aforementioned objects are among the more important objects of the present invention, and it will be understood that the invention has other useful objects which will become apparent from a reading of the specification.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a needle threader comprising an embodiment of this invention, and showing how it is held in the hand preparatory to threading a needle.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of another embodiment of the needle threader.

Fig. 2a is a cross-sectional View taken on line 2a-2a of Fig. 2, and showing a thread draped over the threading arm. i

Fig. 2b shows fragmentary perspective sectional views of alternative forms of the finger piece or plunger.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the needle-holding portion of the casing of the device, showing the serpentine channel through which the thread is drawn after it has been inserted through the eye of the needle.

Fig. 3a is a view similar to Fig. 3, but a modification thereof.

Fig. 4 is an inside view of one of the halves of the casing, showing how it is cut out to accommodate the several moving parts of the device.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the other half of the casing.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to that of Fig. 4, showing how the needle threading member with its finger piece and spring portion connected thereto are mounted in said casing.

Fig. 6a is a fragmentary elevation of the inside face of one of the halves of the casing with the reciprocating threading member in retracted position therein.

Fig. 6b is a sectional view taken on line Eb-6b of Fig. 6a. 7

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical elevation of the inside face of one of the halves in the zone of the needle holding portion of the showing casing, and showing the dart-shaped needlethreading arm in position to engage a needle and enter its eye.

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the reciprocating member together with its integrally attached finger piece threading arm and spring.

Fig. 9'is a similar view of a modified form therenected thereto, and integral therewith.

Fig. 9a is a longitudinal sectional view through the needle threader. utilizing the modification shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical elevation of the inside face of one-half of the needleholding portion of the casing, and showing a modification of the conical seat in theneedle well.

Fig. 10a is a sectional view taken online l0a Illa of Fig. 10.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view showing how an additional needle threading member is used.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of aneedle thr'eader of, showing an additional threading arm con--' 6 made in accordance with the present invention, showing said needle threader mounted on a thimble.

Fig. 13 is another perspective view of a needle threader, showing a needle-holding casing with a hole formed therein to receive the tapered shank of the needle threader.

Fig. 14 is another perspective view showing the tapered shank of the needle threader in position to enter a hole formed in another type of needle kit or container.

Fig. 15 is a. perspective view of a spool of thread showing how the tapered shank of the needle threader may be mounted in the hole formed in said spool.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary perspective view of a table showing a hole formed in one of the side boards thereof and showing a looped strap attached to the table portion thereof, said hole and said looped strap being adapted to receive the tapered shank of the needle, threader.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a suction cup showing how a hole may be formed in the side and in the end thereof to selectively receive the tapered shank of the needle threader.

Fig. 18 is a longitudinal elevational view of the inside face of one of the halves of a needle threader with a needle disposed therein, and shown in section, and showing the reciprocating member therein and a thread being drawn through the eye of the needle.

Referring now to the first form of this invention, it is clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5 that the body or casing of the needle threader, identified in Fig. 2by means of the reference character 20, comprises a pair of complementary parts 20a and 23b, respectively. These parts of the body may be made of any suitable material such as plastics, and they may, if desired, be molded or cast to the respective shapes which the drawing shows them to have. More specifically, body member 20a has a vertically extending main body portion 25a, 2. horizontally extending tapered shank portion an; on one side of the main body portion, and a vertically extending finger 21a on the other side of the main body portion, said finger bearing at an acute angle with respect to said main body portion. It will be seen in Fig. 5 that complementary body portion 20b is provided with acorresponding main body portion 25b, a corresponding tapered shank portion 261); as well as a corresponding finger portion 21h.

Body portion 29a is provided with pins or dowels 28c, 2960, a,- and cm, respectively, and body portion 20b is provided with registering holes 28b,

29b, 30b and 3lh, respectively. which tightly aecommodate said pins. Body portion 26b is provicled with pins or dowels 32b, 33b andtdh, respectively, and body portion 26a is provided with corresponding holes 3%, 33a and 44a, respec- "tively, which are adapted toregister with, and

accommodate, pins 3222,3312, and 34b, respectively. The body or casing of the needle threaderunder discussion consists simply of the two body porsecure the parts together. 1

portion of the hole.

that communication may grooves through said cutouts.

complementary parts of the body or casing of "It will hereinafter more fully appear that the main body portion of the casing accommodates the needle and the threading mechanism and that the tapered shank portion accommodates the additional or auxiliary needle threading member.

A vertically extending groove 40a is formed in main body portion 25a and a corresponding groove 40b is formed, in main body portion 25b. These grooves are closed at their respective lower or inner ends Ma and Mb respectively, and they flare'outwardly at their upper or outer ends 4201. and 42b respectively. When the two body portions are joined, inner face to inner face, grooves 40a and 40b complement each other to form a substantially cylindrical hole or. well which flares outwardly at the top open end and which is closed at its lower, inner end. This is the needle receiving well which is identified in Fig. 2 as well as in other figures by means of the reference character 40.

The outwardly flared or funnel-shaped open end of the hole is well adapted to receive the needle and to guide it into the main, cylindrical The closed bottom end of the hole is tapered to conical shape, the conical 'wall being separated from the axial center of the hole by an angle of about 55. Diametrically opposite portions of the conical wall are, therefore, about 110 apart to form a conical seat 43. (See Fig. '7.) The conical seat is important because since the needle well is large enough to receive the largest commercial hand-sewing needles, it is of considerably greater diameter than most of the needles for which it will be used. Ihe conical seat will cause all needles to gravitate towardthe center of the seat and thus the needle and the needle well will be coaxial.

Hence, the eye of the needle will be vertically alined with the threading arm. Now when the bill of the hooked arm is projected by the spring 82 it might have a tendency to push the very small and hence light needles up the slope of the conical seat. To overcome this tendency there provided at the base of the seat, a narrow channel Ho approximately .008 of an inch wide and approximately .012" long. In this form the conical seat 43 will readily accommodate all but the two largest sizes of commercial handesewing needles, that is, Nos. 1 and 2. However, in the modification shown in Fig. 10, no such limita- 'tion exists. The conical seat 44 in this case, is designed to include near its apex the same angle as shown and described with respect to Fig. '7, but toward its base its-angle becomes more obtuse relative to its axis, and for smoothness it is curved so one portion blends into the other to provide a seat into which all needles will gravitate toward the center of the needle Well. This form (Fig. as in that shown in Fig. 7, has a narrow depression or channel 41d, into which the butt ends'of the very small needles will seat when they 'are rotated to align their eyes with the point of the threading arm. In Figs. 7 and 10, it will'be seen that the eyes of small ne'edles 62S will overlap the eyes of the large needles 62L when they are resting on the conical seat.

It will be seen in Figs. :4 and '5 that angular cut-outs 50a, 51a and 52a, and t' l), 51b and 52b, respectively, are formed in main body portions 25a and 25b along one side of grooves 40a. and lllb, respectively. These several cut-outs open into said grooves 40a and 4st, respectively, so be had with said when the. two

the needle threader are brought together in the manner above described, cut-outs 50a, Sid and 52a cooperate with cut-outs 50b, 5lb and 52b in staggered relation to form, in effect, a serpentine channel similar, though differently shaped from channel 50 (Fig. 3), which communicates with well 40. As Fig. 3 clearly shows, channel 50 is the passageway through which thread 60 travels after it has been inserted through the eye lfil of needle E32 and the needle is being withdrawn from the needle threader. It is not es sential that the shape of channel 50 be serpentine but it is important that a straight channel which is parallel to well 40 be avoided since a small needle might slip through such channel.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3a,.lugs 56 are provided to extend alternately from each side of the casing past the medial line thereof. This arrangement forms the serpentine channel 50 above mentioned. It will be noted that in this modification, the lugs 56 have beveled or angulated' upper faces. which serve to cause the butt end of the needles to glide off these lugs, should the needle, in passing down into the needle well tip over. and encounter the top 'of any of these lugs.

The diameter of needle well 4!) should exceed the diameter of the largest needle which the needle threader is designed to thread. Its depth should, however, be exceeded by the length of the shortest needle, said threader is intended to accommodate, so at least part of the needle will protrude suificiently to permit grasping by the hand. The width of serpentine channel '50 should exceed the diameter of the heaviest or thickest thread or multiple threads'which-it is possible to pack through the eye of a needle and which may be used in connection with the needles said threader is adapted to accommodate.

It will be noted in Fig. 4 that cut-outs 53a and 53a are provided in body portion 25a and that corresponding cut-outs 53b and 541) are provided in body portion 25b. Cut-outs 53a and 5% are horizontally aligned with each other on opposite sides of groove iila and it will be noted in Fig. 5. that cut-outs 53b and 54b are horizontally aligned with each other on, opposite sides of groove 401). These several cut-outs communicate with grooves Mia and 401) respectively, as well as with each other when the twobody portions are secured together. They are formed a predetermined distanceabove the conical closed end of hole -49, said distance being determined by the distance between the eyes of the several needles which may be accommodated by this needle threader and their respective butt ends. These cut-outs are so positioned and their dimensions are such that they register with the eye of every needle which the .needle threader,

is adapted to accommodate when the butt end of said needle rests upon the conical seat 43 or 44, as shown in Figs. 7 and lOQrespectively. It should be stated here, and it will more clearly hereafter appear, that these cut-outs last .mentioned constitute the passagewaythroughwhich the thread may pass during the course of the needle-threading operation. Were .it not- .for

such cut-outs, there would be insufficient clear.

arepushed by the-hook, the tapered passage 9 will serve as a lead-in to the needle eye. (Fig. 6b). It should also be observed that the rear of this thread passage is so dimensioned that after the hook has drawn the thread or threads through the needle eye the thread bight will be held in place so long as the hook slide is held against spring tension and while the needle is being withdrawn from the needle well. Thus the needle is along a secured thread until the user is satisfied as to the extent or length of thread that has passed through the needle, at which time the plunger or slide may be released to permit the spring to project the barb to release the thread.

A relatively wide, horizontally extending recess its is formed in main body portion 25a and partly in finger portion Zlc to accommodate reciprocating member 8!, and a'corresponding reces it?) is formed in main body portion 25b and finger portion 2Tb. A somewhat deeper and substantially triangular recess or cavity Ha is formed in main body portion 25a and a corresponding but slightly larger recess or cavity lib is formed in main body portion 251). When the two body portions of the device are secured together in the manner aforementioned, recesses Mo and Tilt register with each other and recesses Fla and Nb register with each other and all of said recesses have communication with each other cooperate to accommodate the moving parts of the needle threader.

The movable parts of the needle threader are three in number: the needle threading arm as, the finger piece or plunger iii and the spring 32. (See 8.) Needle-threading arm as com prises a horizontally extending arm which has a pointed. bill at its forward end and a hook 32c immediately behind its pointed forward end. For purposes of convenience both in the specification and the claims member 80 will hereinafter be designated. and identified as the threading arm. The thickness of this threading arm should be such to enable it to pass through the smallest eye of the smallest needle which the needle threading device is designed to Plunger iii of a finger piece or thumb piece sic and a horizontally extending slide bar Bib. A vertically extending portion 8% projects upwardly from horizontal bar i lb and supports the horizontally extending threading arm 88. A

predetermined space is thereby provided between i the pointed forward bill end of said threading arm thumb piece Sid and a predetermined space is thereby also provided between said threading and horizontal bar Bib.

Bent substantially at right angles to horizontal bar 8|?) is a spring root plate 820, which continues upwardly as spring 82. It will be noted that before the bending operation of spring 82 and its root 82a from the plate Bib, the metal is sheared as at 800 from the top edge to very near the bottom thereof. Spring 32 projects upwardly at an angle of approximately 15 oil the vertical. It may be bent at its upper end to form a curved portion 82?); however, this band may not be necessary. It will be seen in the drawing that thumb piece Bio, horizontal bar 8lb, vertical portion 85b, threading arm to, plate 82a and spring t2 are all integral with each other, ,All of said parts combined constitute a,

single stamping. As has already. been noted, the sheet material from which the stamping is made should preferably be stainless spring steel.

The stamping last above described and best shown in Fig. 8 is mounted in the casing in the manner shown in Fig. 6. Spring portion 82 is disposed in the spring chamber, formed by combined recesses Ha and lib. Hooked end threading arm 80, vertical portion 8%, horizontal bar Slb and a small part of thumb piece 8| a are normally mounted in the chamber formed by combined recesses Illa and Mb. The major portion of thumb piece Ella projects outwardly from the casing as Fig. 6 and Fig. 2 clearly show.

At the upper end of recess Ho, and. projecting into the upper end of recess 'l'lb, is a shoulder 85 against which curved portion 82b of spring 82 bears. Shoulder 85 may have a relatively fiat or a relatively curved bearing surface and said surface should preferably be disposed at an angle of approximately 45 with respect to the vertical. The shape of spring 82 is such that when its curved end portion 82b bears against shoulder 85, it ends to urge the rest of the stamping, that is the hook-shaped threading arm 80, thumb piece 81a, and portions 80b, 8!!) and 82a leftwardly and downwardly, as seen in Fig. 6. Finger pressure is required to push these several parts to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 6 and this movement, rightwardly of the solid line position shown in Fig. 6, takes place against the action of spring member 82. 1

The shape and angle of inclination of shoulder 85 are important to the smooth functioning of the device since radically changed shape and angle of inclination may produce a binding effect with respect to spring 82. Furthermore, the slide which includes the thumb piece 8| a, threading arm 80 and portions 8%, Bib, engages in other than strictly horizontal, reciprocatory movement. It also moves both vertically and pivotally as the arrows in Fig. 6 clearly show, although, to be sure, such movement is on a relatively small scale by comparison with the extent of the horizontal movement of said slide. It will hereinafter more clearly appear that the slide is adapted to move both vertically and pivotally to enable its threading bill to enter the eyes of some needles. The shape and angle of inclination of shoulder 85 are conducive to such vertical and pivotal movement. It may also be found desirable, to avoid binding in the action of spring 82, to form recesses Ha and 11b in unequal sizes. This would have the eifect of preventing the spring from catching upon the edges of casing members 2011 and 2012 along the periphery of recesses Ho and Nb, and more especially in the area of contact with said spring.

An island or boss 90a is formed in recess 78a immediately below needle groove 40a, and a corresponding island or boss 90b is formed in recess 70b immediately below needle groove 4011. These two islands occupy the space between threading l arm 80 and horizontal slide bar Bib, when the manner and for the purposes above set forth.

Islands Sta and b perform two important functions: they assist in guiding the slide in its horizontal movements and they also provide the needle seat which has above been identified by means of the reference characters Ma and Mb. Elements Ma and Mb have above been described as constituting the closed lower ends of grooves 40a and 40?) respectively. When the two casin portions a and 202) are joined in the manner above described, closed ends @Ia and Mb of grooves 40a and 40b combine to form needle seat. This seat is conical in shape as has above been noted, to receive the butt end of the needle.

It will be observed that the slide is so con structed that its bill 80a is directed to point toward the finger piece IlIa and also that the slide bar Bib slides directly under the needle seat.

A typical threading operation may now be described. The first step is to push thumb piece am inwardly with one hand, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 6, against the tension of the spring. This causes the threading arm to move inwardly past needle well 40 and tends to align the needle eye with the threading arm. Needle 62 may be dropped downwardly into said needle well until its butt end rests upon seat 43 or 44. It will be found that by reason of the conical shape of seat 4344 and the fact that it is composed of two separate portions Ma and Mb, that the needle will tend to automatically position itself on said seat in such manner that its eye 62a is in alignment with threading arm 80. Thumb piece em may now be released and spring 82 will move said thumb piece as well as barbshaped member 80 and portions 801) and SI?) outwardly until said barb enters needle eye 6211. If perchance the needle eye is out or" alignment with the barb-shaped member, the thumb piece should be actuated or manipulated once or twice to cause the barb-shaped member to engage the needle and thereby to cause the needle to turn sufliciently to align its eye with the hooked end. Another way of accomplishing the same result is to leave the threading arm in its normal position athwart needle well 40. The needle is then dropped into the well and the thumb piece is actuated to move the threading arm inwardly against the action of spring 32. Sliding contact is thereby provided between the barbshaped arm and the needle and this has the effect of causing the needle to turn into accurate alignment with the barb-shaped arm, especially at the moment that said barb-shaped arm moves a suilicient distance to the right to clear the needle. When the thumb piece is released, spring pressure causes the barb-shaped arm to move outwardly into and through the eye of the needle.

Thread. 60 may now be draped over the barbshaped arm in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2a. It will be understood, as Figs. 2 and 6 clearly show, that a part of said barb-shaped arm is exposed in the V-shaped space or thread throat 35, which separates main body portions a and 2512 from fingers 21a. and 21b. The ends of the thread may be permitted to hang downwardly as shown in Fig. l, or they may be held by the fingers of the free hand and pulled downwardly slot formed by tapered recesses 53a. and 54a and tapered recesses 53?) and 54b. The needle is now threaded, and it should be removed from well 40.

As it is brought upwardly through said well, while maintaining pressure on the plunger, it slides along the thread 60 and said thread travels through the sinuous channel 50 which has been above described. (See Fig. 3.) The needle is double threaded, and it may be used in that condition or one of the ends of the thread may be pulled outwardly through its eye to leave only a single thread therein. When the needle is withdrawn for the desired length of thread, the plunger is released to permit the hook to release the bight of the thread.

The needle seat should be so arranged that the eyes of the smallest commercial hand-sewing needle, say a No. 10, and of the eye of the largest commercial hand-sewing needle, say a No. 1, either Shaprs or Crewels, would overlap about .005 of an inch. When the smaller of these two needles is placed in the needle hole, the thread- 7 spring and plunger are all stamped from a common sheet of stainless spring steel. This material should be approximately .004 to .005 of an inch in thickness, and it should be hardened to such an extent as will enable it to be bent at right angle on about a .015" radius without cracking or breaking. It has been found that a hardness of about 400 Vickers has been satisfactory.

Tapered shank 26a is provided with a recess I00 which extends longitudinally and horizontally thereof. Pins 30a and 3Ia extend in said recess. It will be seen in Fig. 2 that this recess is adapted to receive an auxiliary dart-shaped threading member IOI which has a cut-out I02 formed therein to accommodate said pins 30a and 3Ia. These pins assist in guiding said auxiliary member when said member is pulled outwardly from its said recess or pushed inwardly thereinto and pin 30a, prevents said auxiliary member from leaving its said recess. This auxiliary member may be used to thread any needle larger than those that can be accommodated by the main threading member. The manner in which this auxiliary threading member may be used is best shown in Fig. 11 where a similar though modified form of threading member appears. The dart is inserted through the eye of the needle, the thread is then looped about the dart and the dart is then pulled outwardly from the eye of the needle, thereby pulling the thread with it and thus threading the needle.

Fig. 9 shows how an auxiliary threading member H0, similar to auxiliary threading members IN and I05, may be made integral with main threading member III which is similar to the barb-shaped threading member above described. This needle threading device has a spring II2 which is similar to spring 82 and a plunger I I3 which is similar to plunger 8 I. Spring Ill extends from plate IM which is similar to plate 82a and a horizontal bar H5 extends from said plate [[4 and continues outwardly to form auxiliary threading member III]. The two threading arms III) and III, as well as bar H5, plate H4, plunger H3 and spring II2 are all integrally stamped and formed from a single sheet of spring material. When this double ended threading device is incorporated into a casing similar to casing 20 above described, recess I is extended to communicate with recess 1Ia. Both threading members II 0 and I I I may, therefore, be actuated by the same plunger II3 reciprocating with respect to the same casing.

In the modification shown in Fig. 11, the reciprocating member slidably mounted in casing I06 includes thumb piece I08, principal threading arm I09 and auxiliary threading arm I05. A compression spring I01 urges auxiliary threading arm I to the left to its retracted position. Thumb piece I08 may be pressed rightwardly, as viewed in the drawing, to move auxiliary threading member I05 to its projected position shown in Fig. 11 against the action of spring I01.

Figs. 1 and 12 to 17, inclusive, show how the tapered shank 2B which comprises portions 26a and 26b may be used to assist in holding the threading device in the hand during use. It will be seen in Fig. 1 that said tapered shank may be held between the forefinger I and the third finger I 2| to render the thumb piece 8| accessible to thumb I22 for actuation thereof. The other hand is thereby left free to put the needle into the needle well and to drape the thread over the barb-shaped needle threading arm. Said other hand is also free to remove the needle from said threading device after it has been threaded.

The casing of the threading device under discussion may be provided with a hole I 25 through which a string may be looped so that said needle threading device may be hung from about the neck of the person using the same, or it may be hung from a nail or hook on a conveniently located wall or table, such as table I21. If desired, a hole I23 may be formed in said table to accommodate said tapered shank 26; or a looped strap I29 may be attached to the table for the same purpose. A ring-shaped member I30 may be attached to a conventional thimble I3I as shown in Fig. 12. The tapered shank 26 may then be inserted into the ring I30 so that the needle threading device may be held in operative position by simply placing the thimble on one of the fingers in conventional manner. In Fig. 15, tapered shank 253 is shown inserted into the hole of an ordinary spool of thread I33. In Fig. 13, a needle containing kit I is shown which is adapted to receive a thimble I36 at one end thereof and which has a hole I31 formed at the opposite end thereof to receive the tapered shank 26 of the needle threading device under discus sion. In Fig. 14, a second type of needle containing kit I38 is shown with a hole I39 formed therein to receive said tapered shank 26. In Fig. 17, a suction cup I is shown having a pro- .iection MI formed thereon with one or more holes I42 formed therein. These holes may extend both axially and transversely of said projecting portion I M to accommodate tapered shank 28. The suction cup may be mounted on any suitable surface.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the present device has been described in its preferred forms only and it may assume other forms as well as modifications of the preferred form; within the broad scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A needle threader adapted to accommodate all commercial size hand-sewing needles comprising a two-part housing, a vertical needle-well in said housing, a transverse guideway in said housing, a reciprocating member closely slidably housed within said transverse guideway and comprising a sheet metal stamping having a hooked threading arm as an integral part of said member extending from the rear end of said member forwardly, said hooked arm terminating in a pointed bill, said threading arm being spaced apart from a lower portion of said member, a leaf spring bent from and extending as an integral continuation of the reciprocating member upwardly and rearwardly from said member with an actuating portion of said member extending forwardly, outwardly beyond said body portion to be operatively engaged by a persons finger, said needle-well being adapted to receive a needie for longitudinal and axial movements only until its eye lies in the path of said hooked threading arm, a notched throat in said body to receive a thread to be engaged by said hook of the threading arm for drawing it through the eye of a needle disposed in said well, said spring being, adapted to be flexed when the reciprocating member is being moved rearwardly and adapted to straighten out to pass the hook of the threading arm through the eye of said needle as the reciprocating member moves forwardly under the influence of the spring, and cooperating members on the reciprocating member and on the housing for clamping the loop of a thread stationary when said member reaches its inward limit of 'movement immediately after the hooked threading arm is withdrawn from the needle after threading the latter.

2. A. needle threader as claimed in claim 1 and having a conical seat in the housing at the bottom of the well to rotatably support the: butt end of the needle with the eye of the needle in alignment with the hooked threading arm, the angle of the conical seat being obtuse and of such degree that when any commercial size handsewing needle rests on said seat the eye of the needle will be in position for the pointed bill and the needle to cooperate to lead the bill through the eye of the needle, said reciprocating member having free limited vertical movement.

3. A needle threader as set forth in claim 2, wherein a cavity is provided in the housing for accommodating the leaf spring, said cavity being much wider than the width of the spring to allow freedom of movement of said spring to find its own seat.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3, further characterized by the fact that the cavity in the casing is arranged so that the parting line between the two halves of the housing is off center so that the reciprocating member will ride on solid material and never on the parting line or crack between the parts.

5. A needle threader adapted to accommodate all commercial size hand-sewing needles and comprising a block having a needle-well therein opening to the top of the block, a cavity with in said block, a. guiding channel in said block substantially normal to said needle well and communicating with said cavity and intersecting said needle-well, an island disposed in said channel in spaced-apart relation to the top guiding surface of said guiding channel, a conical seat in said island, said. seat being in axial alignment with said needle-well, a vertically disposed slot through said block communicating with said needle-well, said slot being vertically sinuous to bar a needle in the needle-well from falling out through said slot, a. reciprocating member of. stainless spring steel havingv a finger piece on the. front endthereof and having a portion extending rearwardly and then upwardly and then re-entrantly forwardly, said latter portion constituting a threading arm, a hook on the upper edge of said threading arm near its free end,,said hooked portion terminating in a pointed bill, the rear of said reciprocating member having. an extending portion bent normal to the plane of said member and extending upwardly and rearwardly to serve as a leaf spring to urge said member and. hence the threading arm forwardly and through the eye of a needle resting in the needle-well and on said seat, said plunger being slidably disposed in said guiding channel, with its threading arm riding on the upper surface of said island, the upper edge of the rearwardly extending portion of said member at times hearing against the under surface of said island.

6.. A needle threader as set forth in claim 5, in which said block is provided at its rear with a. tapered shank suitable for holding the device between the fingers. of the hand and for sup porting the device in the center opening of the thread spool so. that the spool may be used as a hand hold.

7:- A needle threader as set forth in claim 5, and having a conical seat in the housing at the bottom of the well to rotatably support the butt end of the needle with the eye of the needle in alignment with the hooked threading arm, the angle of the conical seat being obtuse and of such degree. that when any commercial size hand-sewing needle rests on said seat the eye of the. needle will be in position for the pointed bill, and the needle to cooperate to lead the bill through the eye of the needle, said reciprocating member having free limited vertical movement.

8. A needle.- threading device of the character described, comprising a casing, a needle-receiving well in said casing and a needle-eye-engaging member slidably mounted in said casing athwart said needle-receiving well, said needleeye-engaging member being spring urged in one direction to project it through the eye of a needle mounted in said well and being provided with a finger-actuated portion for manually pushing said needle-eye-engaging member in the; opposite direction, against the action of the spring, to retract it from the eye of said needle, said needle-eye-engaging member having a thread hook, said needle-eye-engaging member being integral with its said spring and with its said finger-actuated portion, said casing having a vertically disposed slot through its wall communicating. with said needle well, said slot being vertically sinuous tov bar a needle in the needle well from falling out through said slot.

9. A needle threader adapted to accommodate all commercial size hand-sewing needles comprising a two-part housing, a vertical needle.- well in said housing, a transverse guideway in said housing, a reciprocating. member closely slidably housed within said transverse guideway and comprising a sheet metal stamping having a hooked threading arm as an integral part of said member extending forwardly from the rear end of said member, said hooked, arm terminating in a pointed bill, said threading arm being spaced apart from a lower portion of said member, aleaf spring bent. from and extending as an integral continuation of. the reciprocating member upwardly and rearwardly from said member with an actuating portion of said member extending forwardly, outwardly beyond said body portion to be operatively engaged by a persons finger, said needle-well being adapted to re.- ceive a needle for longitudinal and axial. movemen-ts only until its. eye lies in the path of said hooked threading arm, a notched throat in said body to receive a thread to be engaged by said hook of the threading arm for drawing it through the eye of a needle disposed in said well, said spring being adapted to be flexed when the reciprocating member is being moved rearwardly and adapted to straighten out to pass the hook of the threading arm through the eye of said needle as the reciprocating member moves forwardly under the. influence of the spring.

10.. A needle threader adapted to accommodate all commercial size hand-sewing needles comprising a two-part housing, a vertical needlewell in said housing, a transverse guideway in said housing, a reciprocating member closely slidably housed within said transverse guideway and comprising a sheet metal stamping having a hooked threading arm as an integral part of said member extending forwardly from the rear end of said member, said hooked arm terminating in a pointed bill, said threading arm being spaced apart from a lower portion of said member, a leaf spring engaging said reciprocating arm, an actuating portionv of said member ex.- tending forwardly, outwardly beyond said body portion to be operatively engaged by a person's finger, said needle-well being adapted to receive a needle for longitudinal and axial movements only until its eye lies in the path of said hooked threading arm, a notched throat in said body to receive a thread to be engaged by said hook of the threading arm for drawing it through the eye of a. needle disposed in said well, said spring being adapted to be flexed when the reciprocating member is being moved rearwardly and adapted to straighten out to pass the hook of the threading arm through the eye of said needle as the reciprocating member moves forwardly under the influence of the spring.

11. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein a cavity is provided in. the housing for accommodating the leaf spring, said cavity being arranged so that the parting line between the two halves of the housing is off center so that the reciprocating member will ride on solid material and never on the parting line or crack between the parts.

12. A needle threader adapted to accommodate all commercial. size hand-sewing needles and comprising a block having a needle-well therein opening to. the top of the. block, a cavity within said block, a guiding channel in said block substantially normal to said needle well and communicating with said cavity and intersecting said needle-well, an island disposed in said channel in spaced-apart relation to the top guiding surface of said guiding channel, a conical seat in said island, said seat being in axial alignment with said needle-well, a vertically disposed. slot through said block communicating with said needle-well, a reciprocating member of spring meta1 having a finger piece on the front end thereof and having a portion extending rear- Wardly and then upwardly and then reentrantly forwardly, said latter portion constituting a threading arm, a hook on the upper edge of said threading arm near its free end, said hooked portion terminating in a pointed bill, the rear of said reciprocating member having an extending portion bent normal to the plane of said member and extending upwardly and rearwardly to serve as a leaf spring to urge said member and hence the threading arm forwardly and through the eye of a needle resting in the needle-well and on said seat, said plunger being slidably disposed in said guiding channel, with its threading armv riding on the upper surface of said island, the upper edge of the rearwardly extending portion of said member at times bearing against the under surface of said island.

13. In a needle threader of the type in which a housing has formed therein a needle-well and a guideway extending transversely of said needlewell, and in which there is a horizontally reciprocating member in said guideway, said member having a hooked end threading arm, with said end terminating in a pointed bill; that improvement which comprises a conical seat formed in the housing at the base of the needle-well to guide said needle to the center of the well, the angle of divergence of the sides of the conical seat being obtuse, such that when any commercial size hand-sewing needle from No 1 to No.

10 rests on said seat, the eye of said needle will be at the proper level to receive at least the point of the bill of the threading am, said needle threader housing having a sinuous thread passage communicating the needle-well with the outside of the needle threader housing, parts of the confronting walls of said passage being interspersed to serve as a barrier for a needle within the wel1 while permitting thread to pass therethrough without hindrance.

JULIAN SETH KAI-1N.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,162,938 Leon Dec. 7, 1915 2,281,180 Christ Apr. 28, 1942 2,311,665 Kahn Feb. 23, 1943 2,338,159 Appleton Jan. 4, 1944 2,507,370 Edwards May 9, 1950 

